The Abyss Stirs

The air within Ithrial's crystalline corridors grew heavier with each step, a tangible reminder of the city's age and the ancient forces it held at bay. Though the immediate threat of the shadows had passed, the tension within the group lingered like a storm cloud, heavy and oppressive.

Daniel felt it most keenly. The pulsing energy of the core within him was like a second heartbeat, its rhythm erratic and insistent. The whispers were louder now, no longer distant murmurs but clear enough to send shivers through his being.

Mira noticed his discomfort and placed a hand on his shoulder, her eyes searching his face. "Daniel, are you sure you're okay? You've been… different since the obelisk."

He nodded, though the weight of the core's influence was evident in his gaze. "I'm fine, just—there's something about this place. It feels like it's alive, like it's trying to guide me… or warn me."